Objective To alleviate inflammatory stress response in patients with primary liver cancer undergoing hepatectomy and to promote their recovery. Methods Totally, 174 patients undergoing hepatectomy for liver cancer were randomized into two groups, with 87 cases in each group. The control group received routine perioperative dietary management, while the intervention group was subjected to optimized dietary protocol:carbohydrate solutions were provided to drink before the surgery, and warm water, nutritional solutions, clear liquids, semi-liquid diet, soft food and common food were gradiently increased for oral intake after the surgery. Results Eighty-two patients in the control group and 86 in the intervention group completed the study. The intervention group had lower values of C-reactive protein and IL-6, earlier first passage of gas and shorter postoperative hospital stay compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no aspiration in both groups. Conclusion Preoperative oral carbohydrate solution intake combined with early postoperative oral intake can reduce the level of postoperative inflammatory stress response and promote recovery.